Portillo's Kennesaw

I couldn’t be more thrilled that Portillo’s has finally arrived in Kennesaw, Georgia! As someone who grew up enjoying Portillo’s in the Chicago area, this was a nostalgic treat. I had the pleasure of attending both the invite-only soft opening and the grand opening, and both experiences were fantastic. The excitement was evident, with long lines of eager fans, but it was well worth the wait. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the experience even more enjoyable. The menu is a food lover’s dream: from their iconic Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs to mouth-watering burgers, crispy fries, and delicious desserts. There’s something for everyone, and everything is top-notch. Plus, the convenience of their hours, open from around 10 AM until 11:30/12, means you can satisfy your craving pretty much any time of day. I highly recommend checking out this new location. It’s a wonderful addition to the community and brings a piece of Chicago to Georgia!

We had a really good time. Everyone in my family got something different and then we all tried a Chicago dog. The portions of the entree items were much bigger then anticipated. I got a double cheese burger thinking it would be a standard fast food double cheese burger and it was MUCH larger then I thought. The staff were very kind to us. Even though they were busy, they made an effort to help every customer with direct attention. They had people on the floor constantly cleaning tables and picking up trash. All our food was hot and fresh and the orders were correct which was the best part.

Unbelievably delicious. From the Chicago Dog to the Chili Cheese Dog to the Fries with Cheese Sauce. Not a drop was left behind. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. What a great job Portillo’s! You set the bar very high. I can’t wait to return. And trust me, my return will be very soon.

The flavor was not like back home in the Italian beef but I know they can get it together. The hype definitely was here though people are definitely flocking to the new spot. As a local Chicago native the only thing missing was some flavor otherwise the chilli cheese dog was good strong pops and cool decor inside. I’d definitely come back or wait til Buford comes closer to me I drive 52 miles to check it out. It wasn’t all bad though nice family spot busy though parking and tables are limited due to the busy season. Great staff and customer service. Friendly people and nice atmosphere. Just need to tweak the flavor to like the one back home. Pricing is good and affordable. Quality products for the food just need that flavor like you can smell through the cold air in Chicago. It wasn’t not bad just lightly seasoned and Portillos is known for being the pioneers of the Italian beef so this part needs a little work otherwise I’d still come back and order it. I’m going to wait for the Mall of GA one to open just word to wise we Chicago folks expect the same quality or we be skeptical about it. A lot of chains have came and went due to lacking flavor only one I know hits in the food chain has been J & J gotta be on point with the seasonings it’s a lot of us Chi town Atlanta living folks and if it ain’t like back home we will tell everybody nah we wait til we get off the plane at Midway and run to Portillos always going and coming back so fix this please we believe in second chances. great location and beautiful restaurant great vibe.

FYI, it’s a zoo here right now! Be prepared to wait a WHILE. I went on 11/22 with a couple of fellow ex-Chicagoans and we had no idea how crazy it was going to be. They had police presence to manage the traffic! The drive-through lane was backed up all the way up the hill to the candlewood suites. Unfortunately, they were not allowing anyone to enter the parking lot even if you wanted to just park your car and do dine-in, so it made things extra crazy. We had to park up the hill and then walk. Hopefully things will calm down and it won’t be this bad forever. And I also hope that the success of this one will encourage them to open more locations in the area, ideally closer to ITP! I made the trek all the way from Atlanta because I wanted a taste of Chicago! The fries and cheese sauce were just as good as I remembered them. The salad, which is my typical order, tasted almost perfect. We waited 45 minutes in line to order, but once we placed the order, the food was out in about 5 minutes. If you’re a Portillo‘s diehard, then it’s definitely worth the wait, but if you’re just curious, I would visit only after things have calmed down a bit.

Lots of traffic but easily found a parking spot. Got in line at 5:00pm and ordered by 5:07pm. Cashier was friendly enough, but they were out of the hot peppers which was disappointing. I ordered the Italian Beef Dipped with Sweet Peppers (wanted sweet & hot but they said no hot). My husband got the Chicago Dogs. I also got a side of cheese which was a good price for the amount. Dining room drink machine was out of ice, but they quickly got us some from behind the counter. Inside was very very loud so we sat outside, luckily a nice day! We got our food by 5:24pm which was pretty quick considering the amount of people in the lobby and drive thru. Italian Beef was great but it definitely needed the hot peppers. Chicago Dogs were great, very flavorful. $30 total for two meals plus the cheese. I really REALLY wish I could know how the sandwich would have been with the hot peppers, because I feel like it would have made that much of a difference.

Just had an incredible first visit to the brand-new Portillo’s in Kennesaw, GA, and I’m already planning my next trip back! This place is massive and beautifully designed—you can tell they put a lot of thought into the layout. Ordering options galore: traditional counter, self-service kiosks, or the drive-thru, so no matter how you roll, it’s quick and easy. Even with a packed house and a long line ahead of us, the staff was lightning-fast and super professional. Food was out in under 10 minutes—insane for a grand-opening-level crowd! We went with chili cheese dogs and a classic Chicago dog, and everything was spot-on perfect. The buns held up beautifully (zero sogginess even with all that chili), the dogs were snappy, and the toppings were generous and fresh. We devoured the chili dogs so fast we totally forgot to dip the fries in the cheese sauce… guess we’ll just have to come back sooner! They did miss one small item on our order, but the team fixed it instantly with a smile—no fuss, no wait. That kind of quick, friendly recovery is exactly why Portillo’s has the reputation it does. Bonus: they’ve got a great merchandise section with super-cute magnets, t-shirts, and even pet collars (my dog is getting one next time)! They also sell their famous Italian beef kits pre-packaged to take home and make whenever the craving hits—genius for us Georgia folks who now have real Chicago beef on demand. If you’re anywhere near Kennesaw, do yourself a favor and go. This location is already running like a well-oiled machine. Absolute 5-star experience—welcome to Georgia, Portillo’s! Can’t wait to become a regular.

Portillos is always a staple whenever you’re in Chicago. They finally branched out and it’s definitely a must stop when I’m Kennesaw and soon to be Buford. The food was good (not as great as back in Chicago) but that was to be expected. Atmosphere was great just wish they could have done it more like the original stores with all the props and pictures from Chicago. Just glad Georgia is finally getting some decent food places.